In an effort to acknowledge the contributions of Latino lawyers at prominent firms throughout the Philadelphia region, AL DIA News has recently announced that it will be launching the Latino Lawyers Luncheon.

The luncheon will honor 6 lawyers across the city and acknowledge their careers thus far in an attempt to truly acknowledge and support the contributions of Latino lawyers to Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The six lawyers were selected from six of the top firms in the Philadelphia region. Adriel J. Garcia of Stradley Ronon, Ana Cecelia Montalban of Greenberg Taurig, Todd A. Rodriguez of Fox Rothschild LLP, Lisa Rodriguez of Schnaeder Attorneys at Law, and Martin Arias of Zajac & Ariad, LLC, and Caroline Cruz, the Deputy City Solicitor of the Philadelphia Law Department are the lawyers to be honored at this event.

Outside of a special edition that will profile each of their careers, the acknowledgements will end with an event that hosts their firms and allows for each one to speak to their experience as a Latino lawyer in Philadelphia. Many of the lawyers have expressed not only a need for this type of event but also a need for Latino lawyers throughout the community to come together and form connections in a field where they may not be recognized or have an opportunity to be acknowledged.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity for all of us to come together. I think it’s rare for us to not only be recognized but for us to also have the avenue to provide support to each other, whether as women or Latinas,” says Ana Cecelia Montalban, one of the lawyers being honored at the event. The event is set to take place annually with the first event taking place on January 22nd at the Pyramid Club.